OUTLOOK: Tropical Storm Chantal still is projected to aim generally toward Florida and the Bahamas over the next five days, placing the southern half of the state in the cone of error, including Orlando.

It also is expected to downgrade into a tropical depression by the time its in this vicinity. Under the current forecast, it would be about 175 miles east of Miami on Saturday morning and about 250 miles east of Daytona Beach that evening.

WHAT FLORIDA CAN EXPECT: It's too soon to say whether Chantal might hit the state. If the system draws closer than currently forecast, it could potentially bring heavy rains and gusty winds to both South and Central Florida on Friday and over the weekend.

PARTICULARS: The center of Chantal is expected to move through the Lesser Antilles Tuesday morning. A U.S. Air Force reconnaissance plane is scheduled to investigate Chantal on Tuesday to provide a better assessment of its intensity.

After emerging in the Central Atlantic on Sunday, the storm's top winds are expected to approach 70 mph - just shy of hurricane strength - while in the Caribbean as it approaches the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.

Chantal is forecast to weaken as a result of wind shear, encountering the terrain of Hispaniola and its fast forward speed.

Over the next three days, the system is predicted to move over the Lesser Antilles and Hispaniola and brush the east end of Cuba.

On Thursday, it is forecast to slown down and make a distinct turn northwest toward the Bahamas and possibly Florida. The forecast track was nudged slight to the right, or farther away from the state, in the latest advisory.

A relatively compact system, with tropical storm force winds extending 60 miles from its center, Chantal could produce up to 6 inches of rain along its path.

Currently, high pressure north of its path is keeping Chantal on a westerly course. However, that pressure is expected to weaken and allow the system to make the northwest turn.

Chantal is the third named storm of the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season. On average, the third named storm emerges on Aug. 13.

LOCATION: 75 miles east of Barbados

STRENGTH: Maximum sustained winds of 50 mph

MOVEMENT: Northwest at 26 mph

OTHER SYSTEMS: The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a vigorous tropical wave over the central Bahamas, for now giving it a near zero chance of developing. However, it is expected to bring storms and potentially heavy rain to South and Central Florida Tuesday and Wednesday.